Benedict XVI, in his first extended reflections on evolution published as pope, says that Darwin's theory cannot be finally proven and that science has unnecessarily narrowed humanity's view of creation.

In a new book, Creation and Evolution, published Wednesday in German, the pope praised progress gained by science, but cautioned that evolution raises philosophical questions science alone cannot answer.

"The question is not to either make a decision for a creationism that fundamentally excludes science, or for an evolutionary theory that covers over its own gaps and does not want to see the questions that reach beyond the methodological possibilities of natural science," the pope said.

I watched a program on The Science Channel yesterday entitled "Supermassive Black Holes."I was mildly amused when they got to the part about "The existence of black holes cannot yet be proven, but it is known for certain that they exist."Funny how these scientists mock religion, but believe wholeheartedly in so many things which cannot be proven.(For the record, I believe in black holes AND evolution. And I also believe that God is responsible for both.);)

I'm Roman Catholic and have found solace in the open-mindedness of the church. Does Pope Benedict XVI's statement on Evolution take us a few steps back?

Here's a quote from http://www.slate.com/id/2122506/

The Vatican made no more major pronouncements until the pontificate of John Paul II. In 1996, John Paul sent a letter to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences noting that there was "a significant argument in favour of this theory [of evolution]." At the same time, the pope assigned the question of "ultimate meaning" to theology. In 2002, the church's International Theological Commission, which convened to address challenges posed by "scientific understanding and technological capability," seemed to support John Paul's statements. "[A]ccording to the Catholic understanding of divine causality," the commission wrote, "true contingency in the created order is not incompatible with a purposeful divine providence."

What is the Pope Benedict XVI trying to achieve by saying this? It seems that Cardinal Christoph Schönborn and Pope Benedict XVI are trying to propose a religious tenet for all Catholics. Please shed some light on this issue as this has been on my mind all day everyday.

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About the Author

Matthew is a Third Order Dominican living in Chicago, Illinois. Matthew's personal interests include seeking a preservation of traditional Catholicism as practiced before the Second Vatican Council. He exclusively attends the Traditional Latin Mass. Matthew is the author of several books including "How to Create a Catholic Blog," "Understanding the Precepts of the Church," and "Eschatology: The Catholic Study of the Four Last Things." He spends his leisure time traveling, teaching, writing, and enjoying culture.